Wilkes Tops Marywood in Non-Conference Baseball Action
Matt Newcomb is now just four hits away from tying the single-season record of 55 after his 4-for-5 day Monday

Wilkes Tops Marywood in Non-Conference Baseball Action

- 4/27/2009 6:52:56 PM

BOX SCORE

Scranton, PA – Wilkes University pounded 14 hits for 14 runs and took advantage of seven Marywood errors as the visiting Colonels improved to 27-9 on the year with a 14-6 non-conference win over the Pacers Monday afternoon in Scranton. Marywood fell to 8-23 with the loss. Marywood's Matt Newcomb, who is currently on pace to break the school's single-season hit record (57), went 4-for-5 and was just a double shy of hitting for the cycle as he reached 53 total hits on the season.

Down 1-0 in the second after an RBI single from Wilkes' Geoff Miller in the opening inning, Marywood loaded the bases on three consecutive singles by Jeff Cleary (Parsippany, NJ), Pat Diskin (Clarks Summit, PA) and Jason Bugno (Clarks Summit, PA). After a force out at the plate for the second out of the inning, Ed Zakrzewski (Three Bridges, NJ) was hit by a pitch to pick up an RBI as the Pacers tied the game at 1-1.

Wilkes would reclaim a 3-1 lead on a two-run double by John Florance in the top of the fourth. Cleary would open the bottom of the fourth with a double to the centerfield fence for the Pacers and would score two batters later as Bugno singled up the middle to make it 3-2. The Colonels would get that run back the very next inning, however, as Randy Dengler doubled to right-center to score Mike McAndrew from second.

In the bottom of the fifth, Marywood would cut the Wilkes lead to 4-3 on a solo shot from senior Mike Newcomb (Honesdale, PA). Newcomb's homer, his third of the year, went over the fence in deep right-center field. After a two-base throwing error started the Wilkes sixth, Eric Wentzel's RBI double down the right field line gave the Colonels a two-run cushion once again. Matt Ruch would then give the visitors a 6-3 lead with a two-out single to center to score Wetzel. Andrew Garofoli would then put Wilkes up by four with a single off of relief pitcher Alex Magid (South Salem, NY).

Newcomb would continue his strong showing in the bottom of the sixth with a triple to left to score to runs and cut the Wilkes lead to 7-5. Newcomb would be stranded at third however as Colonel relief pitcher Keith Rhinehammer got a grounder back to the mound to end the inning and Marywood rally. Wilkes would go up 9-5 in the next inning as Florance opened with his second double of the day and came home on a ground-rule double by Trevin Jaggars. Jaggars would the score on a fielding error the very next play.

Wilkes would add two more in the top of the eight on a two-base error to left field to extend their lead to 11-5 before Marywood's Mike Castellano (Brooklyn, NY) got a sacrifice fly to make it 11-6 in the bottom of the eighth. Just a double shy of completing the cycle, Newcomb would step to the plate and put a shot through the gap to get his third hit of the game, a single, and put runners on the corners for the Pacers. Those runners would be stranded there as Rhinehammer got a big strikeout to end the inning. In the ninth, Wilkes would take advantage of several Marywood errors to go up 14-6.

Marywood starter Mike Siciliano (Whippany Park, NJ) fell to 0-4 after taking the loss on the mound. Siciliano went 5.2 innings and allowed three earned runs (seven total) while striking out five on the day. Al Clocker improved to 5-0 on the mound for Wilkes after 5.2 innings of work. Clocker struck out four and was responsible for five Marywood runs (three earned). Rhinehammer came on in relief for Wilkes and went 2.1 innings, allowing one run and striking out two before closer Sean Flecknoe pitched a scoreless ninth for the visitors.

Newcomb finished the day 4-for-5 for Marywood with a homer, triple and two singles to go along with three RBI. Bugno was 3-for-4 with a RBI double. Florance led the Colonels with two doubles as part of his 2-for-4, two-RBI day at the plate.

Marywood returns to action Wednesday as the Pacers visit the University of Scranton for a 4:00 pm single game at Connell Park.
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